Do you know a grower who has excelled this year despite the difficult conditions? Or a contractor or agronomist who has gone above and beyond to make sure that your business runs as smoothly as possible?
Perhaps you’ve succeeded through investment, attention to detail or diversification to develop a farming business that stands out from the pack.
Well now is your chance to celebrate those achievements as entries for the National Arable and Grassland Awards (NAGA) 2025 are open. Now in its fourth year, NAGA is organised by Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer and Agronomist & Arable Farmer, in association with BASIS and the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC).
Entries will be collected and judged by a panel of industry experts, with the finalists being announced in September.
It culminates in a lavish event next February at the Hilton London Bankside, where the finalists and winners will be honoured in a room of their peers and party into the early hours with a celebrity host and entertainment.
Go to www.nationalarableandgrasslandawards.co.uk to put your nominations and entries in. The closing deadline is the 2nd of August.
Read about the 2023 winners here
THE CATEGORIES
Cereal Grower of the Year – Sponsored by Limagrain – The winner of this award will be able to demonstrate an effective rotation strategy and disease management policy, producing consistently high yields. Our Cereal Grower of the Year will also have a commitment to regenerative agriculture and an intimate knowledge of the markets served.
Fruit Grower of the Year – Strong agronomy knowledge and high yields are key judging criteria in this award, and the winner will also show a commitment to improving soil health as well as a willingness to adopt new practices and innovations.
Oilseed Grower of the Year – Sponsored by Premium Crops – Effective control of pests will be judged in this category, alongside yield and soil health. Given the tricky nature of oilseed crops, the judges will also be looking for a track record of managing challenges through innovation, as well as seeking expert agronomy knowledge as required.
Potato Grower of the Year – Potato growers should aim to show an intimate knowledge of the markets served, as well as strong agronomy knowledge and high yields. A willingness to adapt and innovate to improve soil health and tackle pests and diseases will also be considered.
Protein Grower of the Year – Sponsored by Limagrain – Sustainability will be carefully looked at in this award, as growers produce more UK protein crops. Key performance indicators and effective control of pests and diseases make up part of the judging criteria, alongside innovation and yields.
Vegetable Grower of the Year – The judges will be looking for a grower able to demonstrate strong performance in yield, crop nutrition and pest and disease control. The winning grower will also show an intimate knowledge of the market and a commitment to improving soil health.
Each winner from our crop growing categories will be entered into GROWER OF THE YEAR, with the winner being recognised as one of the very best in the UK agricultural sector.
Contractor of the Year – The judges are looking for a dynamic and professional contractor who is multi-skilled, flexible and reactive to their customers’ needs. Investment in new technologies to improve crop performance and the knowledge to act as an advisor to growers will also be considered.
Farm Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Househam Sprayers – This award celebrates the key decision makers overseeing significant arable or grassland farms, with evidence of how they have driven the business forward, delivered above and beyond targets and motivated staff.
Grassland Manager of the Year – Sponsored by Omex – Grass yields and how these have translated into gains further down the supply chain (litres of milk or kg of meat per hectare) will be considered in this award. The winner will also show a dedication to improving soil health and the effective use of fertiliser.
Sustainable Farming Award – Sponsored by QLF – The winning grower will demonstrate a commitment to reducing their business’ carbon footprint through the effective use of inputs and practises which promote long-term soil health and biodiversity.
Young Farmer of the Year – Sponsored by Cefetra – This award celebrates the next generation of farmers. The winner will be under 35 and running an arable or grassland business. Judges will be looking for an innovative approach to farming, as well as a long-term commitment to the industry.
Agronomist of the Year – The Agronomist of the Year can be employed or working independently but must show a passion for helping growers achieve their full potential. There must be evidence that demonstrates how their advice has led to improvements in performance.
Young Agronomist of the Year – The winner of this award will be under 35, working independently or employed, with a track record of solving problems for their clients. The judges will be looking for evidence of on-farm improvements brought about by the advice given.